Edward L. Baker President of Video Consultants NorthWest LLC.

Edward Baker is a retired major crimes detective with over 27 years of dedicated service at the Tacoma Police Department in Washington state. During his distinguished career, he established the department’s inaugural forensic video analysis unit and earned the distinction of being one of the first nine individuals worldwide to achieve certification as a forensic video analyst.

For over 25 years, Edward Baker has cultivated deep expertise in forensic video analysis, becoming a trusted authority in the field. As the founder of Video Consultants NW LLC, he provides advanced forensic video services to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across North America. Edward partners with prosecutors, attorneys, and legal professionals who rely on video evidence but may not possess the technical fluency required to assess video encoding and reliability. Through meticulous examination and clear interpretation, he ensures each piece of evidence is thoroughly validated and persuasively presented—supporting investigative efforts ranging from comparative visual analysis to speed calculations, gait assessments, and complex human factor evaluations.

In addition to his direct forensic and law enforcement work, Edward dedicated over 14 years to teaching as a core instructor at the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association International (LEVA.org). There, he co-instructed three of the four intensive weeklong certification courses and played a pivotal leadership role as both former president and vice president. His efforts were instrumental in establishing certification programs that have set the global standard for video analysts. Edward also developed and currently leads an advanced three-day online video examination course, specifically tailored to meet the rigorous needs of investigators and analysts in both law enforcement and private practice.

Throughout his expansive career, Edward has served in a variety of critical roles—including first responder, fatality accident investigator, crisis negotiator, rescue coordinator, and public information spokesperson—complementing his work as a major crime’s detective. With an impressive combined experience spanning 40 years, he has significantly influenced the development of forensic video software and evidence management systems utilized worldwide. His consulting contributions have spurred innovations in video and image analysis software, in collaboration with industry leaders such as Axon, Ocean Systems, and YottaGeek.

Edward Baker’s diverse and extensive experience has uniquely positioned him to provide expert instruction, consulting, and forensic analysis. His expertise is best captured by the Hebrew concept of Chokmah—a blend of skill, deep understanding, insight, and sound judgment—embodying a form of conventional wisdom shaped by a lifetime of real-world experience.

 “Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach.”

                                                                                –  Aristotle